Hristo Stoichkov
Attack
WORLD LEGEND
Bulgaria
About
One of the most feared forwards of the 1990s, Hristo Stoichkov was a Bulgarian icon whose left foot and fierce competitive spirit made him a global superstar.
He rose to prominence at CSKA Sofia, but it was his move to FC Barcelona in 1990 that defined his career. As a key member of Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team,” Stoichkov helped revolutionize European football, combining technical flair with ruthless finishing. He was instrumental in Barcelona’s domestic dominance and their first-ever European Cup triumph in 1992. His career peaked in 1994, winning the Ballon d’Or award to cement his football legacy.
On the international stage, Stoichkov carried Bulgaria to unprecedented heights. At the 1994 World Cup, he finished as the tournament’s joint top scorer and led his nation to a historic semi-final, putting Bulgarian football firmly on the map. A Ballon d’Or winner and national hero, Stoichkov remains one of the greatest players ever produced by Eastern Europe.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
International Level
Bulgaria
FIFA World Cup Fourth place: 1994
FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1994 (6 goals)
FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 1994
UEFA European Championship Appearances: 1996, 2004
Club Level
CSKA Sofia
Bulgarian League: 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90
Bulgarian Cup: 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89
Bulgarian Supercup: 1989
Barcelona
La Liga: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98
Copa del Rey: 1996–97
Supercopa de España: 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996
UEFA Champions League: 1991–92
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup: 1996–97
UEFA Super Cup: 1992, 1997
Al-Nassr
Asian Cup Winners’ Cup: 1997–98
Saudi Super Cup: 1998
Chicago Fire
U.S. Open Cup: 2000
Personal Honours
Ballon d’Or: 1994
FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1994
FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 1994
FIFA XI: 1996, 1997
Onze d’Or: 1992, 1994
Onze de Bronze: 1993
World Soccer Player of the Year: 1994
European Golden Shoe: 1990
Bulgarian Footballer of the Year: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994
Golden Foot: 2007 (as football legend)
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
Bulgaria (1986 – 1999)
83 apps, 37 goals
CLUB HISTORY
Hebros (1982 – 1984) 32 apps, 14 goals
CSKA Sofia (1984 – 1990) 119 apps, 81 goals
Barcelona (1990 – 1995) 151 apps, 76 goals
Parma (1995 – 1996) 23 apps, 5 goals
Barcelona (1996 – 1998) 46 apps, 7 goals
CSKA Sofia (1998) 4 apps, 2 goals
Al-Nassr (1998) 2 apps, 1 goal
Kashiwa Reysol (1998 – 1999) 28 apps, 12 goals
Chicago Fire (2000 – 2002) 50 apps, 17 goals
D.C. United (2003) 21 apps, 5 goals
Total (1982 – 2003) 476 apps, 220 goals